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Fire is ruled accidental
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Posted on Aug 11 2008
A short circuit and overloading are to blame for last week’s fire at the O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes law office on the second floor of the eight-story Marianas Business Plaza building in Susupe, according to the Department of Public Safety.
The fire was isolated to the office of attorney Joseph Horrey, witnesses said. Horrey is a member of the O’Connor law office.
The aluminum window and door framing had melted and the gypsum board had indications of clean burn marks, DPS said in a statement.
“Investigators discovered that the electrical wirings, found at the corner of the room, showed indications of globule,” the statement said.
Lawyer Robert O’Connor estimated damage at $100,000.
He said 98 percent of files were not damaged because most were in cabinets in another room.
Saipan Tribune learned that as a result of the fire operation, water leaked to a portion of the first floor occupied by KWAW Radio Com.
The water damaged the radio station’s one laptop computer, one computer printer, and one telephone unit, but the damage did not stop the station from operating.
The Marianas Business Plaza (formerly called Nauru Building), which houses about 40 establishments, lost its power due to the fire.
